Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/86

80 had taken our seats, he said: "What has happened to the British Press?"

"That's what I have been asking for the last two hours," I said.

"Evidently the police are keeping the matter dark. But why?" said Chelubai.

"I can only suppose that unless a reporter chances to get hold of a matter of this kind they do keep such incidents dark—at any rate till they see their way to acting with credit," I said. "It certainly reflects no credit on them that a rising King of Finance should be knocked on the head under the palings of that most important British institution, the Oval cricket-ground."

"Perhaps they see their way to acting with more effect if they wait a day or two," said Bottiger gloomily.

"I don't see where the effect is coming in. We haven't given it a chance," I said cheerfully.

"Something may have gone wrong," said Bottiger.

"How do you mean?" said Chelubai.

"Are you sure he was quite—removed?"

"Unless the head of a rising King of Finance is as thick as his skin and we ought to have used a half-brick instead of sand, he was quite removed," I said.

"It was the best sand—silver sand," said Chelubai.